Boom assembly for lift and tow truck

ABSTRACT

A lift and tow truck assembly having a bed and an upright support and a boom support block, with an elongated boom assembly swivelly mounted upon said block for universal adjustment. A head assembly mounting plate upon the free end of the boom assembly mounts a head assembly which includes a sheave for a load line. The load line sheave assembly is mounted upon the upright support and is connected to a winch assembly on the bed. A pair of rearwardly converging telescoping boom side supports at their one ends are pivotally connected to the boom support block for rotation on a horizontal axis with their other ends secured to the head assembly mounting plate. A head support assembly is connected to the head assembly and includes a block and tackle and suspension cable and is adapted for powered raising and lowering of the boom.

United States Patent 1 Morrow 1 Dec. 25, 1973 [75] inventor: Dennis W. Morrow, Livonia, Mich.

[73] Assignee: Eagle Industries, lnc., Dearborn,

Mich.

[22] Filed: July 31, 1972 [21] Appl. No: 276,902

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 6/1943 Holmes 212/59 R 7/1942 Rowen" 212/8 R 2,838,182 6/1958 Brown 2,715,014 8/1955 Gamett et al..... 254/139.l 1,764,935 6/1930 Davey et a1 214/86 A 2,928,557 3/1960 Cline 212/145 Primary Examiner-Richard E. Aegerter Assistant Examiner-Hadd Lane Attorney-Robert A. Sloman [5 7] ABSTRACT A lift and tow truck assembly having a bed and an upright support and a boom support block, with an elongated boom assembly swivelly mounted upon said block for universal adjustment. A head assembly mounting plate upon the free end of the boom assembly mounts a head assembly which includes a sheave for a load line. The load line sheave assembly is mounted upon the upright support and is connected to a winch assembly on the bed. A pair of rearwardly converging telescoping boom side supports at their one ends are pivotally connected to the boom support block for rotation on a horizontal axis with their other ends secured to the head assembly mounting plate. A head support assembly is connected to the head assembly and includes a block and tackle and suspension cable and is adapted for powered raising and lowering of the boom.

6 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures PATENTEDnuzes ms 3. 780.878

SHEET 2 BF 3 FIG-2 PATENTED DEC 2 5 I975 SHEET 3 OF 3 BOOM ASSEMBLY FOR LIFT AND TOW TRUCK BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Heretofore, in lift and tow truck assemblies, there has been a need for a reinforced boom assembly for increased loads and for working at any angle with full rated capacity loads throughout l80 with respect to the bed axis.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved boom assembly mounting by which the boom assembly may be swivelly supported upon the bed of the vehicle and adapted to swing throughout an arc of 180 in conjunction with reinforcing side support assemblies normally pivotally connected at their respective ends to the bed as well as to the outer end of the boom and, wherein, the boom assembly and head support assemblies are of telescoping construction.

It is another object to provide an improved boom side support assembly for the boom, wherein, side support assemblies at their inner ends may be disconnected from the bed of the vehicle so that the boom may be swung throughout an arc of to 180 and, wherein, the free ends of the boom side support assemblies may be disengaged from the vehicle bed, swung around and down onto the ground for stabilizing support for the boom during operation.

It is another object to provide in conjunction with the reinforcement use of the boom side support assembly of a pair of universally mounted outrigger assemblies, either one of which may be swung from a normal support position within the bed to a ground engaging position for cooperative supporting registry of the vehicle, and upright frame.

These and other objects will be seen from the following specification and claims in conjunction with the appended drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the bed of a lift and tow truck assembly, illustrating the boom the boom side supports and the outriggers;

FIG. 2 is an end elevational view thereof with the boom assembly removed;

FIG. 3 is a plan view thereof;

FIG. 4 is a side perspective view illustrating the use of the boom side support assemblies-for supporting the boom from the ground surface;

FIG. 5 is a side perspective view illustrating another boom support use for the side support assemblies in conjunction with the vehicle side support outrigger en gaging the ground surface; I FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the telescoped boom with its telescoped side support assemblies.

It will be understood that the above drawing illustrate merely a preferred embodiment of the invention, and that other embodiments are contemplated within the scope of the claims hereafter set forth.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Referring to the drawings, the present lift and tow truck assembly generally indicated at 11, FIG. 1, includes a horizontally disposed bed 13, and at the forward end thereof, a pair of upright spaced supports and across the top thereof, support plate 17, and employing a pair of inclined stabilizing reinforcements l9.

Arranged rearwardly of supports 15 upon said bed is an elongated support block 23 at the center of which is swivelly mounted the boom assembly 25, FIGS. I and 2.

Said boom assembly includes an elongated boom base 27, and adjustably mounted thereover the elongated telescoping sleeve 29. A suitable locking pin 31 interposed normally holding the sleeve and boom base in assembled relation as retracted is shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

The inner end of the boom base 27 is pivotally mounted at 33 upon a horizontal axis between the yoke 35. Its inner portion is swivel mounted at 37 and with respect to the upright or vertical pivot axis 39. By this construction, the present boom assembly 25 is adapted for universal adjustments with respect to the boom support block 23.

Upon the outer end of the sleeve 29 is a transverse mounting plate 41 adapted for securing to the transverse plate 43 of the head assembly 45.

Said head assembly includes a pulley 47 adapted to receive the load line 49 with connected hook 51. Sheave 53 is journalled upon load line sheave assembly 55. Its base 57 is mounted centrally upon the horizontally disposed support 17 as best shown in FIGS. 2 and 3.

The load line winch assembly 59, FIGS. 1 and 2, is journalled at 61 upon said bed upon a suitable support 63 thereon and is adapted to receive the free end of the load line 49 extending from the load line sheave assembly 55 for raising and lowering the hook 51.

A pair of telescoping rearwardly converging boom side support assemblies 65 are provided upon opposite sides of boom assembly 25. Each side support assembly includes an elongated base 67. Its stirrups 69 are pivotally connected by the removable pin 73 to the anchor plates 71 upon the respective ends of support block 23 for pivotal movement upon horizontal axes.

The telescoping boom side supports include the elongated telescoping sleeves 75 which are slidably positioned upon the elongated base members 67 and in retracted position, are secured by the transverse removable keys 77.

The outer ends of the telescoping boom side support members 75 mount stirrups 79, FIG. 1 which are pivotally connected to the support plates 81 on head mounting plate 41 by the pins 83 which extend upon horizontal axes.

The head support assembly 85 includes a pair of brackets 87, FIGS. 1 and 3, pivoted thereto at 89 and journalling at their outer ends at 91 the sheaves 93 which form a part of a conventional block and tackle construction.

The block and tackle assembly includes cable 94 which is anchored at one end to the support as at 96 and extends around the respective sheaves 93 of the block and tackle assembly to the load frame suspension assembly 103. This includes brackets 97 journalling at 99 the sheaves forming a part of the block and tackle. The brackets are pivotally mounted at 101 to the load frame suspension assembly 103 which is swivelly mounted as at 105, FIG. 3, to the top support 17 forwardly of the load line sheave assembly 53.

An end portion of the cable 94 forming a part of the block and tackle assembly extends to and is wound around the suspension winch assembly 107 which is journalled at 109, FIG. 2, upon the base 111 on platfonn 21 which extends between the side supports 15.

A pair of swivel mounted outrigger assemblies 113 are normally positioned upon the bed when not in use and at their upper elevated ends include stirrups 115 pivoted at 117 to the swivel 119 projecting laterally from the sides of the supports 15.

The lower ends of the Outriggers 113 include removable foot supports 121 anchored by removable pins 123.

Foot supports 121 are pivotally connected to the trunions 125 of each foot 131. The ground engaging foot is pivotally connected at 129 to the trunion assembly.

By this construction, the outrigger assemblies are swivelly and universally mounted at their upper ends to the upright supports and are adapted to be swung outwardly of the bed so that the foot 131 of one ofthe outrigger assemblies when used will supportably engage the ground surface such as shown in FIG. 5.

OPERATION In the present illustrative embodiment, the boom assembly 25 is ofa telescoping construction. At its inner end it is swivelly mounted as at 37-39 upon the bed 13 and mounting block 23 centrally thereof. At the same time, the opposed pair of converging boom side supports 65 are also pivotally mounted at end portions of the block 23 as at 73 for movement about horizontal axes. The end plate 41 on the telescoping boom provides for pivot connection of the outer free ends of the boom side supports thereto to provide a reinforced construction, wherein, for all vertical movements, with the boom remaining aligned with the central axis of the bed, said side supports remain connected to the boom. Furthermore, if the boom should be telescopically adjusted, the boom side supports are correspondingly telescopically adjusted at the same time.

The transverse mounting plate 41 at the end of the boom assembly which pivotally mounts the outer ends of the boom side supports 65 also provides the mounting for the head assembly 45 for the load line 49. This line and its associated hook 51 for engagement with a load such as a vehicle or the like is raised and lowered by movement by the load line 49 over the associated load line sheave assembly 53, FIG. 1, and the connected power operated load line winch 59.

In all cases where it is desired to swivel the boom to any angle throughout 0 to 180, it is first necessary to remove the pivot connections 73 of the boom side supports 65.

With boom side supports disconnected and with the boom elevated through the block and tackle assembly shown, the free ends of the boom side supports are adapted to engage the ground surface to reinforce and further support the boom such as shown in FIG. 4 or FIG. 5.

In both situations, the same foot construction 131, which is provided for the outrigger assemblies is similarly connected to the free ends of the boom side supports 67 employing exactly the same construction as shown at 121, 123, 125, 127, 129 and 131 of FIG. 1.

It is noted from FIG. 4, that even with the boom arranged along the longitudinal axis of the bed, that in this case also, the boom side supports 65 may be disconnected from the block 23 and with the feet 131 connected supportably engage the ground surface.

Different angles may be employed for the positioning of the side supports upon the ground surface such as shown in FIG. 5. In this construction, there is additionally provided the use of at least one of the outrigger assemblies l 13 to engage the ground surface for stabiliz ing the vehicle against tipping and to resist transverse forces reacting to the pulling of a load.

The raising and lowering of the boom is accomplished by the block and tackle arrangement connected by the head support assembly 85, the block and tackle pulleys 93 and 95 and the connection to the suspension winch 107, FIG. 2.

Thus, there is provided a lift and tow truck assembly, wherein, the boom construction is telescoping as are also the respective boom side support assemblies.

Furthermore, the boom may be employed extending longitudinally rearward along the axis of the bed or may be swung through an outer arc of 0 to When so used, the boom side support assemblies may provide additional stabilizing and, reinforcing and supporting functions such as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5.

It is contemplated that the boom and side support assemblies may be telescoped manually, hydraulically or pneumatically using a cylinder and piston assembly or mechanically such as by a rack gear and pinion.

Rotation of the boom assembly may be accomplished manually, or by a power means such as a motor oper ated chain and sprocket drive or worm and pinion.

While the foregoing description has been specifically directed to a lift and tow truck assembly, it is contemplated that the present telescoping boom and side support assembly and controls may be adapted to a stationary or mobile crane.

Having described my invention, reference should now be had to the following claims.

I claim:

I. In a lift and tow truck assembly having a bed, an upright support and a rearwardly spaced boom support block on said bed;

a central elongated boom assembly at one end swivelly mounted centrally upon said block for both vertical and horizontal swinging a head assembly mounting plate upon the free end of the boom assembly;

a head assembly secured to said plate including a sheave movably mounting a load line and hook;

a load line sheave assembly on said upright support receiving said load line;

and a load line which assembly on said bed connected to said load line;

a pair of spaced rearwardly converging telescoping boom side supports, readily removable means pivotally connecting said side supports at their one end to end portions of said boom support block for rotation on a horizontal axis;

said telescoping boom side supports having at their other ends means pivotally connecting same to said head assembly, said side supports being of a length to reach the ground from said head assembly when said removable means is removed and said central boom assembly is swung horizontally;

a head support assembly connected to said head assembly including a block and tackle and suspension cable; adapted for power control for raising and lowering the boom.

2. In the lift and tow truck assembly of claim 1, said boom assembly adapted to swing throughout an arc of 180, with the inner ends of said boom side supports disconnected from said boom support block.

3. In the lift and tow truck assembly of claim 2, said boom assembly and side supports having elongated base members pivoted to said boom support block, and elongated sleeves on said base members respectively connected at their outer ends to said head assembly mounting plate.

4. The lift and tow truck assembly of claim 2, and swivel mounted feet having means to secure same to the free ends of said boom side supports when said removable means is removed.

5. The lift and tow truck assembly of claim 2, and a pair of outrigger assemblies at their one ends swivelly outrigger assemblies.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3.780.878 Dated December 25, 1973 Inventor) Dennis W. Morrow It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Column 14., line -L .7, claim 1,- "which" should read winch Signed and sealed this 18th day of June "197L4.;

(SEAL) Attest: EDWARD M.FLE'I,'CHER,'JR; 0., MARSHALL DANN Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents ORM PO-105O (10-69) 

1. In a lift and tow truck assembly having a bed, an upright support and a rearwardly spaced boom support block on said bed; a central elongated boom assembly at one end swivelly mounted centrally upon said block for both vertical and horizontal swinging a head assembly mounting plate upon the free end of the boom assembly; a head assembly secured to said plate including a sheave movably mounting a load line and hook; a load line sheave assembly on said upright support receiving said load line; and a load line which assembly on said bed connected to said load line; a pair of spaced rearwardly converging telescoping boom side supports, readily removable means pivotally connecting said side supports at their one end to end portions of said boom support block for rotation on a horizontal axis; said telescoping boom side supports having at their other ends means pivotally connecting same to said head assembly, said side supports being of a length to reach the ground from said head assembly when said removable means is removed and said central boom assembly is swung horizontally; a head support assembly connected to said head assembly including a block and tackle and suspension cable; adapted for power control for raising and lowering the boom.
 2. In the lift and tow truck assembly of claim 1, said boom assembly adapted to swing throughout an arc of 180*, with the inner ends of said boom side supports disconnected from said boom support block.
 3. In the lift and tow truck assembly of claim 2, said boom assembly and side supports having elongated base members pivoted to said boom support block, and elongated sleeves on said base members respectively connected at their outer ends to said head assembly mounting plate.
 4. The lift and tow truck assembly of claim 2, and swivel mounted feet having means to secure same to the free ends of said boom side supports when said removable means is removed.
 5. The lift and tow truck assembly of claim 2, and a pair of outrigger assemblies at their one ends swivelly connected to upper portions of said upright support on its opposite sides; the lower ends of said outrigger assemblies extending rearwardly and resting upon said bed; one of said outrigger assemblies adapted for removal from said bed for swinging outwardly thereof for cooperating stablized engagement at its free end with the ground surface.
 6. In the lift and tow truck assembly of claim 5, and swivel mounted feet secured to the free ends of said outrigger assemblies. 